Hi!

I got a big bag of pine shavings from an animal feed store and I was wondering if I can use it for my rabbits cage. I usually get aspen, but they said that they can no longer get it because they lost their supplier. My rabbit uses a litter box with a grate on it so he can't get at the litter, and he is on a grate on his main floor of his cage above the litter to. I wouldn't have to put it over the main floor though, I could just use it in his litter box. Also, I have a hamster too and was wondering if I could use it in her cage. I have heard that pine is bad, but I thought I would ask and get your opinion. I guess I can always return the bag if necessary!

Thanks in advance,
Laura

Pine is better than cedar but it's still not ideal. Aspen is better than pine. I buy CareFresh for my rabbits' litter pans.
At issue are the aromatic hydrocarbons that woods release. They can cause problems, even cancer. There's also the
problem of the air bourne dust itself. I don't suggest keeping rabbits on wire or grates as it's bad on their feet. It's good
that the rabbit can't get to the litter but you can use a regular cat litter pan with CareFresh, straw, newspaper, etc. Some
buns will eat newspaper, and they can, of course, eat the hay. My buns don't eat CareFresh but, if your bun did, you
couldn't use that.

The hamster can use the pine shavings but the CareFresh would also work well for him.

Here is a web site with information about the various kinds of beddings and problems with them:

http://www.aracnet.com/~seagull/faq/beddingfaq.html

Good luck!

Hi!

I found some aspen fiber bedding for my rabbit. Are aspen fibers and aspen shavings the same thing? Are the aspen fibers ok to use with hamsters and rabbits?

Thanks,
Laura

Laura I like your Avatar! Real cute.
Tia

I think the fibers are just longer pieces while the shavings are smaller shavings? Do they look a lot different? How does it smell, the same? The aspen fibers are probably as safe as the aspen shavings.

The fibers don't look a lot different, they are just longer like you said. I did smell them and they don't really have a smell. The shavings definately have a woody smell though. Also, the fibers seem like they are heavier than the shavings, but I am not positive on that. Anyway, hopefully they are just as safe!

Laura